Attachment for ladders



t. ,7, 1941. H. SCHWARZ ET AL. 2,257,863

ATTACHMENT FOR LADDERS Filed Aug. 21, 1959 Henry Sahwarz: O (QIZE8 A .EZ'LeP INVENTOR V w IIII I aayaww ATTO R N EYS Patented Oct. 7, 1941 orrlce ATTACHMENT Foa LADDERS Henry Schwarz and Charles A. Eilers, Montague, Mich.

1 Claim.

This invention relates to attachments for ladders, of the general type described in my copending application filed May 29, 1939, Serial No. 276.44%.

An object is to provide a ladder having a pivoted spacer for spacing a balancer from a building so that the operator may conveniently work under caves and behind the ladder without danger of the ladder slipping.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be formed of a few strong simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a balancer and spacer applied to a ladder in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the balancer, ladder and spacer shown in Figure 1, with a portion broken away, and with the spacer and balancer shown in dotted lines in released position.

Figure 3 is a detail plan view of the balancer and spacer shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail view showing the secured ends of the balancer and the spacer.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, a conventional ladder is shown comprising side rails it and rungs H. In carrying out the invention, the balancer comprises parallel side rails l2 connected by rungs E3, the side rails being spaced apart sufficiently to be slidely received between the upper ends of the side rails ill of the ladder. The lower ends of the side rails 12 of the balancer are provided with strong forks I4, best shown in Figures 2 and 4, adapted to straddle a rung H of the ladder, preferably the second rung from the top, and hold the balancer in projected position beyond the top of the ladder. The balancer is guided in its sliding movements, and is disposed between, the top rung l I of the ladder and transversely disposed short bars l5 which are fixed to the side rails of the ladder by bolts Hi.

When the balancer is extended the operator may stand on the top rung of the ladder and grasp the extended balancer to balance himself while working. To release the balancer the balancer is slid upwardly to disengage the forks M from the second rung II of the ladder and then the balancer is slid downwardly along the ladder to released position, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 2, whereupon the forks may be engaged with a lower rung of the ladder to hold the balancer in released position. The short guide bars i5 are spaced above the top rung H to permit rocking movement of the balancer while being moved to extended position or while being moved to released position.

In further carrying out the invention a pair of U-shaped wear plates ll are disposed to straddle the side rails H] of the ladder at the rear edges and both side faces of respective rails at a point above and near the second rung from the top. These plates are rigidly secured in place by bolts I8 and I9, one of which projects beyond the inner side of the wear plate and forms a pivot bolt for the spacer 2i hereinafter described, and the other of which projects beyond the inner side of the wear plate and forms a stop to hold the spacer in horizontal position.

The spacer is in the form of a metal frame comprising parallel side bars 2| connected by diagonal braces 22. The frame and braces may be formed of two lengths of strap metal, one of which is bent M-shape and the other of which is bent substantially V-shape, the apex of the M and the apex of the V being rigidly connected together by rivets 23. The frame may be otherwise formed as desired. The bolts [8 are passed through perforations in the rear ends Of the sides of the frame and rear ends of the V-shaped brace member to pivotally mount the spacer on the ladder.

When not in use the spacer is rocked forwardly between the side rails of the ladder to a position against the top rung H as best shown in Figure 2. When in use the spacer is disposed to extend horizontally from the side rails of the ladder and rest upon the stop bolts 19, as also best shown in this figure.

In operation the spacer holds the upper end of the balancer about one foot more or less from the wall 24. The balance extends upwardly beyond the ladder and the rungs 12 or rails 13 of the balancer may be grasped by the operator to balance himself on the top rung of the ladder while putting up eave troughs or doing other work.

From the above descriptio it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

The combination with a ladder having side rails and rungs, of a pair of U-shaped wear plates disposed to straddle the side rails of the ladder at the rear edges and both side faces of the respective rails at a point above and near the second rung from the top of the ladder, a 10 pair of bolts passed through the sides of each wear plate and through a respective rail of the ladder, one of the bolts projecting beyond the inner side of the wear plate and forming a pivot 

